Tension device for making picket fences



(No Model.)

0. E. WINTRODE.

TENSION DEVICE FOR MAKING PIOKET FENCES.

No. 370,585. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

E an mm w I EEL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. WIN TRODE, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA.

TENSION DEVICE FOR MAKING PICKET FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,585, datedSeptember 27, 1887,

Application filed August 1, 1887. Serial No. 245,870. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WINTRODE, of Huntington, in the county ofHuntington and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tension Devices for Making Picket Fences and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tension devices for makingpicket fences; and it consists in the combination of a suitable plate orframe, having one end bent so as to catch over the edge of the post, andthe other end turned up at right angles, but in the opposite directionfrom the end which catches over the edge of the post, a pivoted leverprovided with a flange and having a slot through one end, and aregulating-screw for adjusting the tension upon the wire, as will bemore fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a device which can be readilyapplied to and removed from a fence-post, and in which the pivoted leveris made to regulate the amount of friction which is applied to the wirewhile being twisted around the pickets.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a device embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

A represents a metallic plate, which has its end B bent at right angles,so as to catch over the edge of the post, and its other end, 0, alsobent at right angles, but in the opposite directionfrom the one B, so asto form a support for the pivoted lever. Upon the same end of the plateas the end 0 is formed a perforated ear or extension, D, through which ascrew or nail can be driven into the post, so as to hold the plate inposition thereon.

Pivoted upon the edge of the end 0 is the lever F, which is providedwith the slot G at its outer free end, and with the flange H on itsinner side, so as to bear against the wires and thus cause the wires tobe bent to a greater or less extent, and thus regulate the amount offriction upon them.

Passing through the plate A, near the end B, is the stationary screw-rodI, which passes through the slot in the end of the lever, and

upon which is placed the thumb-nut J. In proportion as the thumb-nut isscrewed inward upon the rod the free end of the lever is forced inwardtoward the plate, thus causing the flange secured to its inner edge toforce the wires backward toward the corner, which is formed by theturning outward of the end 0, and thus bending the wires so that agreater amount of frictional contact will be exerted upon them. Thewires bear against the outer edge of the plate A at the end B, passbackward under the flange of the lever, and then upward over the edge ofthe end 0. In proportion as the bend is made more or less sharp by theflange, so the friction of the wire against the edge of the plate andthe end 0 is increased..

It will be seen that the plate can be readily attached to the post atany point-by a single screw or nail; that the tension can be increasedor decreased at will by simply turning the thumb -nut; and that thewires can be quickly applied to and removed from the plate withouthaving to remove any part of the tension device except the thumb-nut,this tension device being applied to the post on the farther side fromthe pickets, and does not have to be removed until the pickets aresecured in place up to the very post itself. The consequence is thetension is never taken off of the wires until the wires have beenfastened directly to the side of the post.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of theplate provided with the bent end 0, a pivoted lever connected theretoand provided with a flange to bear against the wire, and aregulatingscrew, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the plate A, having the bent ends B G, the leverpivoted upon the end 0 and provided with a flange to bear against thewire, and having aslot through its free end, the screw-rod, and thethumb-nut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES EuWINTRODE.

Witnesses:

BUELL M. COBB, W. H. MEEOH.

